Non-cooperation hinders appeal submission, alleges BNP

BNP on Tuesday alleged that their some candidates are facing difficulties in making appeals against the cancellation of their nomination papers due to non-cooperation by returning officers.

"The returning officers in different districts aren't giving the candidates any scope to talk to them about the cancellation of their nomination papers," said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Even, he said, the returning officer in Rajshahi still did not give Barrister Aminul Haque and Nadim Mostafa the certified copies of their nomination annulment though Wednesday is the last date for the appeal.

Rizvi came up with the allegations at a press conference at BNP's Nayapaltan central office.

The BNP leader said the returning officers at the behest of the government are trying to keep the BNP's popular candidates away from the election. "The retuning officers revoked the nominations of BNP candidates with lame excuses as per the government's directives."

He also questioned as to how the returning officers declared valid the nominations of Awami League candidates Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and Haji Selim since they were convicted by the court.

"As per the directives they were given a few days back at the Prime Minister's Office, the returning officers cancelled the nomination of huge number of the BNP and opposition candidates. But the nominations of the ruling party candidates were not annulled despite having many flaws."

Rizvi said though BNP and Jatiya Oikyafront leaders have long been demanding for ensuring a level-playing field and stopping the arrest and harassment of their activists, the Election Commission is not taking any step in this regard.

He claimed that their party's many leaders and activists were arrested at different places, including the capital, Narayanganj and Cox's Bazar, on Monday.